Allergic rhinitis decisions — 2016

The Veteran's sleep apnea has been rated at 50 percent since September 9, 2013. His allergic rhinitis is currently rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including COPD and back disorders, have rendered her unable to maintain substantially gainful employment consistent with her education and occupational background.

The Board has granted service connection for neck and back disabilities, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to military service. The remaining claims have been remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a pulmonary disability, including allergic rhinitis and allergies, is being remanded due to the failure to appear for a scheduled VA examination. The case will be returned to the RO for rescheduling.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and consideration of his claims, including a claim for an earlier effective date for his rhinitis rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hemorrhoids, allergic rhinitis, and headaches have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating at any time during the appeal period.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling VA examinations and considering extraschedular ratings. The hearing on the issue of service connection for rhinitis will also be scheduled.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the etiology of his obstructive sleep apnea and whether it is related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of a chronic disability manifested by chest pain or left rib contusion, and the Veteran's claims for service connection are denied.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for sinusitis and migraine headaches, but denied service connection for allergic rhinitis.,Service connection was not granted for sinusitis or migraine headaches. Service connection was granted for allergic rhinitis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is caused by his service-connected sinusitis with allergic rhinitis, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural issues, including scheduling a videoconference hearing for the Veteran.

The Veteran's hypertension, skin disorder, and allergic rhinitis claims are being remanded for additional development as the VA examiners did not provide sufficient rationale or consider all pertinent evidence in their opinions.

The Board has remanded the case for consideration of additional evidence received since the May 2010 supplemental statement of the case. The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings are pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The claim for sinus disorder is remanded to obtain an addendum opinion regarding its etiology, presuming it was present at service entrance. The claim for tinnitus is also remanded for an addendum opinion addressing whether noise exposure in service caused or aggravated the Veteran's tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder and allergic rhinitis did not have their onset during service or are otherwise related to service, thus denying his claims for service connection.

The Veteran requested to withdraw all his appeals, and the Board has dismissed the appeal due to this request.

The Veteran's recurrent sinusitis and allergic rhinitis were initially manifested during active service, and the Board finds that service connection is now warranted based on this evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and an addendum medical opinion addressing his respiratory conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, maxillary and frontal sinusitis, right knee chondromalacia, and allergic rhinitis, have rendered him unable to maintain any form of substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational background.